14 Nov Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Tolago Hard Seltzer

Hard seltzer is all the rage. It is a category of beverage that has grown exponentially, with 10 brands at the beginning of 2018 to 26 brands in early 2019 and now more than 65 brands. With less carbs than beer and less alcohol than wine, hard seltzer satisfies someone looking for an easy to drink beverage. My first taste of hard seltzer was the ubiquitous White Claw but I was put off by the aftertaste and was not interested in exploring the category further. But, this week, I sipped on Tolago Hard Seltzer and enjoyed the light and refreshing flavor and that is why Tolago Hard Seltzer is the Please The Palate pick of the week. Hard seltzer is basically carbonated water and alcohol with fruit flavoring. Tolago Hard Seltzer is made with all-natural ingredients, including ethically sourced fresh fruit juices, purées, and natural botanicals from Southern California, as well as fair-trade certified 100% organic agave nectar from Mexico. Low carb and gluten-free, Tolago Hard Seltzer is only 5% ABV. But the best part is that there is no chemical aftertaste. Tolago Hard Seltzer comes in four flavors and I enjoyed three of them. Tolago Ginger and Pear Hard Seltzer is made with fresh-pressed ginger and pear juice. It is very light on the nose with the sweetness of the pear coming through. On the palate, it is very light and refreshing with a touch of sweetness from the ginger. Tolago Agave and Lime is made with fresh-squeezed lime juice and 100% organic agave nectar from Mexico. On the nose it smells like Sprite and on the palate it is still light, but has more texture than the Tolago Ginger and Pear. Tolago Guava and Mango is made with fresh guava and fresh mango purees and organic agave nectar. The nose is a bit off-putting as the rich fruit notes come across dirty. But, on the palate, the intense nose gives way to a full-flavored hard seltzer with the most texture but still light-bodied. If you are looking for a relatively low-calorie alcoholic beverage with less carbs than beer, lower ABV than wine, and with a light and refreshing taste, check out Tolago Hard Seltzer, available to order at Pink Dot.